2-year-old's drowning in muddy puddle latest in 'dreadful year'

2-year-old boy drowns in muddy puddle

ANITA HASSAN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Published 6:30 am, Monday, November 30, 2009

A 2-year-old boy drowned Sunday in muddy water outside a truck yard in southwest Houston.

Joseph Enriquez wandered away from a lunchtime barbecue at the Cook Road business, where his father and several other men were working as mechanics. His mom and another woman had brought three small children to the site to prepare lunch for the workers.

The group began a frantic search as soon as they realized Joseph was missing, authorities said.

Several minutes later, a mechanic found the toddler face down in about 5½ inches of water pooled in an area where trucks park, Houston Police Department Homicide Investigator Fil Waters said.

While most children drown in pools and bathtubs, standing water in toilets, buckets and uncovered septic tanks has also proven fatal.

The accidents are painful reminders that parents must keep a vigilant watch on their children, Crimmins said. Caretakers must also realize that small children are rarely able to scream when they need help, he added.

“There usually won't be any noise at all,” he said.

This is the 30th child drowning this year in the Houston region and the fourth in November — an unusually high number for a winter month, officials said.

Gwen Carter, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services, warned parents to keep a close eye on their children, especially as they visit friends and relatives' homes that may not be childproofed during the holidays.

“Just be incredibly watchful,” she said.

“Children are very inquisitive. Any body of water could appear attractive to them. And young children are top heavy. If they fall into a toilet or bucket of water, they can't get out. If a child trips and falls into any water, it can be very dangerous.”